How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best models are capable of picking up dust, light debris and cords.
The more expensive ones can even sweep your floors but they aren't able to climb up the stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient and able to keep up with daily debris. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking capability and the capability to climb stairs. If you're looking for a robot that has additional features, you should consider one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested many robotic vacuums. She's a fan of the robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes the robots that are able to recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords so they don't trip when climbing steps.
Compared to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology and its navigation score is lower. It comes with a huge dust bin that is non-refillable and a long battery. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning times and then return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier to clean larger homes. This model is also a good option for pet owners as it can spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.
In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and identify obstacles using a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future use. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any point and resume where it left off and let you do chores while the robot is working. The app provides a 3D view of your home with room labels and advanced cleaning options.
Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in picking up fine debris such as baking soda and sand and heavier objects, like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawback is that it's not able to mop, and has a slightly less impressive navigation system.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpet and rugs. Many models are capable of picking up dust in low-pile rugs. Some are capable of cleaning up larger debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. However, they can't handle fine particles as well as canister or upright vacuums and may also miss ground-in dirt close to thresholds and baseboards.
The best choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap between an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 rotations a minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when it comes into contact with carpet, which prevents the flooring from becoming wet. It is not necessary to take them off or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums and mops in the absence of obstacles and in being close to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It did well in our tests and you can program it to clean your home when you are away. It can be set up to mop only. We loved its navigation on floors that are not bare and rugs. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for the size of the device.
If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic option. It has a large dock that can last for weeks and not need to be emptied. It also features impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors with no floor. It also has an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to be operational during certain times of the day (a handy feature for keeping children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing chaos). The Shark isn't as powerful than other robot vacuum/mop combos however it's still good at picking up hair and pet hair and is the best value among our top picks.
Ideal for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are ideal for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate around obstacles without causing damage to bare surfaces. They are great at picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They don't have the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the best choice for carpeted rooms or deep cleaning upholstery.
robotic vacuum cleaners -in-one robots incorporate mopping and vacuum and take care of a more complete chore in one sweep. If you have mixed flooring, look for one equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, has this feature and can move seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood floors in your home, you might want to think about a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't have to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.
When robot vacuum cleaners comes to mop pads the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than wipe them to get rid of light dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce waste, spread germs less, and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving you time. The mop pads are also able to be washed, dried and reused.
The robovac is controlled by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. For instance you can use the app to create a zone that the vacuum cannot enter, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor, and puts it in a disposable or bagless bin, so you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
As the name suggests that these robots are designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins that contain less debris, and they're more efficient than larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also be tucked under furniture, whereas larger robots are unable to reach. These robots are also cheaper than higher-end models, however you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums went through a major change as manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would be stuck on or over. This has have reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, a toy, or piece of pet waste.
The new sensors haven't eliminated all the issues with these machines, however. The most affordable models struggle with the same obstacles that the older models faced and, in addition, they require a certain amount light to be able see where they're headed. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of low-profile furniture, consider getting one that uses top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This will allow them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles when working in darkness.
In addition being capable of working in dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only on or near the floor, not above them. You'll still want to cover any mirrors that might interfere with this function however, because the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in another room.
Some of the models that we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to go to. This can be helpful when you have pets or children who are small. robotic vacuum cleaners aren't present on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.